ESPLAT 2025 conference: Scientific thinking in challenging times

This symposium presents the development, international comparisons, and implementation of the International Competences for Undergraduate Psychology (ICUP) Model. The first presentation (Cranney, de Souza) introduces the Model, developed through the International Collaboration on Undergraduate Psychology Outcomes project. Created through extensive collaboration among 120 psychology educators from 47 countries, the Model comprises 24 competence statements across seven categories: two core competences (Psychological Knowledge; Research Methodologies) and five psychology-relevant competences (Values and Ethics; Cultural Responsiveness; Critical Thinking; Communication; Personal/Professional Development). The Model addresses the increasingly global nature of psychology education and aims to guide curriculum development while remaining adaptable to diverse contexts.

The second presentation (Narciss, Spinath) examines the ICUP Model's relationship with existing frameworks, particularly the European Qualification Framework for Higher Education, EuroPsy, and the German Qualification Model. This comparative analysis reveals both alignments and challenges in implementing ICUP within existing legal and policy constraints, offering insights for future development of all frameworks.

The third presentation (Gullifer) showcases a practical application of the ICUP Model through a case study of curricular renewal at Monash University, Australia. This implementation demonstrates the Model's adaptability to specific institutional contexts while maintaining its core principles. This approach combines an accredited psychology major with applied psychology units, offering students real-world experience through work-integrated learning projects in diverse settings.

The final presentation (Nolan, Tateo, Boeta) explores diverse international implementations of the ICUP Model, featuring examples from six continents across various subdisciplines. Cases include course-level adaptations, a departmental curriculum overhaul in the USA, and national-level consideration in Mexico through CNEIP. The presentation also examines the Norwegian International programme's experience, highlighting the balance between global and national perspectives in a postcolonial context. The symposium concludes by referencing the 'ICUP Educational Resources' document and inviting input from attendees, including members of the International Reference Group for Undergraduate Psychology Outcomes. (Discussant: Sokolová)